On the 7th day of fitness my trainer said to me....go for a healthier beverage

On the 7^th day of fitness my trainer said to me….go for healthier beverages!

It’s Christmas time and the drinks cupboard is stocked up. The office party has a plethora of alcoholic beverages for you to feast on and any time after 1pm is surely ok for a mulled something isn’t it?!

Whilst I’m never going to tell you to say no to a cheeky drink at Christmas, if you’re opting in for a slightly healthier one then continue reading. Our bodies treat alcohol as a toxin so all drinks should be drunk in moderation but there are options we can make for healthier booze!

Whilst looking at the calorific content of a drink is helpful you also need to look at the sugar content! If you’re watching your weight then forget the fat content as your only guide to whether this is ‘healthy’ or not, sugar will make you fat too!

Take a look below for some of the healthier options:

Vodka is 96 calories per 1.5oz

Whiskey and Gin is 95-110 calories per 1.50z depending on the brand

Red Wine is between 110-130 calories for a normal glass

Guiness is 128 calories per 12 oz

For those of us who like mulled wine it’s probably helpful to know that a typical glass is approximately 253 calories. This is in contrast to a glass of dry white wine which is approximately 83 calories so if you’re not too bothered about the mulled stuff then opt out!

In a comfortable setting with family and friends, one or two glasses can quickly and easily become four or five. How do we help combat this on a quest to a healthier lifestyle and a healthier Christmas? Some helpful tips given to me by some friends are:

• Set a budget for how much you’ll spend before you leave the house
• Take you time between rounds
• Aim to be the slowest drinker
• Sit down – some drink slower when you can put your drink on a table
• Do something else you enjoy whilst having a drink like playing a game
• Change of scene – maybe somewhere that doesn't serve alcohol. 

See you tomorrow!